The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today convened ministers and global business leaders from 24 countries in Valletta for a high-level Global Leaders Dialogue, held as part of its 26th Global Summit. The session highlighted the role of public-private partnership in strengthening destination competitiveness and shaping the future of global Travel & Tourism. The message was clear: lasting success in the sector depends on governments and businesses working together to address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.
Held under the theme Rewriting the Rules of Global Competitiveness, the Dialogue challenged traditional assumptions about what makes a destination competitive. It explored how connectivity, ease of travel, investment, regulation and public-private collaboration are increasingly determining where travellers, businesses and capital choose to go.
Participants included H.E. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt; Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain; H.E. Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism of Bahrain; Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Tourism of Malta; Robert O'Leary, U.S. Department of Commerce; and H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, among others.
Representing the private sector were William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor International; Eijiro Yamakita, Chairperson of JTB Corp; Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global (WTTC's Mobility Partner); Maher Koubaa, President EMEA of Amadeus; Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale; Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA; and Laura Sileo Pavat, Global Brand Homes Director at Pernod Ricard.
Seamless Travel: Where Government and Industry Meet
The first discussion examined the entire traveller journey, from visas, borders and regulation to connectivity, technology, hospitality and logistics. As biometric borders and AI-driven visa systems become increasingly important, ministers and industry leaders considered how governments can improve security while also removing unnecessary friction for travellers.
Winning the Race for Global Investment
The second discussion turned to the increasingly competitive global race for capital and examined what destinations need to do to become genuinely investment ready. Ministers and business leaders debated the role of regulation, infrastructure, connectivity, incentives and political decision-making in attracting private capital. They also asked whether traditional tools such as tax breaks, golden visas and special economic zones remain sufficient in an environment where regulatory speed, transparency and certainty can increasingly be the deciding factors for investors.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said:
Competitiveness is built through partnership. When governments and industry work hand in hand, they create the conditions for investment, innovation, connectivity and growth. Today's dialogue demonstrated that stronger public-private collaboration is essential to securing the future of Travel & Tourism.
The discussions took place at a time when Travel & Tourism is becoming an increasingly important driver of economic growth, employment and investment worldwide. WTTC's latest research shows the sector contributed US$3 trillion to Europe's economy in 2025, supporting 40.7 million jobs, while international visitors spent US$835 billion across the continent.
The ability to move people efficiently and attract investment is becoming increasingly important to destination competitiveness. The Dialogue gave government and business leaders an opportunity to examine what they can do together to ensure that policy, infrastructure and commercial ambition move at the same pace.